Hydraulic press battery



Nov. 13, 1951 w` c. SCHMIDT ET AL y 2,574,892

- HYDRAULIC PRESS BATTERY Filed Feb. 8, 1947 2 SHEETS-SHEET l unmlimum JNVENToRs. MLU/1M C 52W/w07? NO BY FfEaff/cx 24E/waff?? Aww-N EYs.

MMM

Nov. 13, 1951 w. c, SCHMIDT ETAL l 2,574,892

HYDRAULIC PRESS BATTERY Filed Feb. 8, 1947 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 INVENTORS.

MALL/4M C Scl/M101;

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Nov. 13, A1951 HYDRAULIcPREss- BATTERY l William C. Schmidt, Cincinnati, and Frederick A. Zaenkert, Green Hills, Ohio, assignors to The `Cincinnati Butchers Supply Corporation, Cincinnati, hio, a corporation of Ohio Application February 8, 1947, Serial No. 727,470

This invention relates to an hydraulic press :battery comprising two or more'hydraulic presses arranged in av unitary structure. y

While the invention is applicable to various types of hydraulic presses, we will describe it herein with particular reference to curb presses in which liquid bearing materials are fed into a curb in layers separated by plates and subjectedA to high pressure in order to force oils and greases out of the materials. Such presses are used in the preparation of cracklings.

In the manufacture of cracklings by means of a curb press, the material to be pressed is loaded into the curb, usually while the plunger is being withdrawn from the curb at a slow rate of speed. Successive layers of raw materials and appropriate plates are inserted in the curb until the curb is filled. A platen is then brought into position and under the influence of hydraulic pressure, the materials are subjected to a pressing operation whereby oils and greases are squeezed out of them. The pressing operation, during which the plunger is exerting pressure to produce the cracklings or the like, is generally a rather slow operation because it has been found that a greater yield is obtained if the pressure is maintained for a longer period of time. Presses of this type are large and expensive machines, and they are often attended by an operator for each machine. During the pressing operation, of course, the operator has nothing to do.

It is therefore an object of our invention to `provide a battery ofl presses in a unitary structure whereby the cost per press is considerably reduced and whereby more than one press may be attended by a single operator.

Various supporting structures for presses of this type have been suggested, and it has been found that a four-column type of press is the most satisfactory. A two-column press, where there are two columns on diametrically opposite sides, is not adequately stable, whereas a three or four-column press is stable. However, the additional columns entail a higher manufacturing expense and, of course, a greater cost to the purchaser. It is therefore a further object of our invention to provide a battery of presses of which each is a two-column press, but wherein adjacent presses have a column in common and wherein the columns are not all in one straight line, whereby we achieve the stability of a multicolumn press and provide a larger number of presses for any given number of columns.

It is a further object of our invention to provide a pair of adjacent presses with a common Claims. (Cl. 10G-50) platen which vmay be used with either ofv said presses, `so that while an operator is loading one curb, the platen may be in position on the` other press, so that a pressing operation may proceed on one press while a loading operation proceeds on the first.

These and other objects of our invention, which will be pointed out in more detail hereinafter or which will be apparent to one skilled in the art upon reading these specifications, we accomplish by that construction of which we shall now describe certain exemplary embodiments. `Reference is now made to the drawings forming `a part hereof and in which: p Figure 1 is an elevational View of a two-press battery with parts in cross-section.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the same. V Y Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 but showing a different platen arrangement.

Figure 4 is a partial elevational view of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a partialcross-sectional'ViewY taken on the line 5 5 of Figure L Figure 6 is a diagrammatic plan view of an arrangement with more than two presses in the battery, and f Figure '7 is a diagrammatic plan view of, an arrangement of a battery in a polygonal formation. Briefly, in the practice of our invention we employ a curb press of any suitable construction. For the purpose of illustration, We have shown the individual press as being o f a c onstruction disclosed in Patent 1,898,116 in the name of N. J. Allbright, and reference is made to that patent for a description of and an understanding of the operation of an individual press.

Briefly, however, each press comprises an hydraulic cylinder I0 in which a plunger II operates. A curb I2 is provided which may consist of a plurality of slats vertically disposed to form a latticed cylinder and held in position by a plurality of hoops I3. Surrounding the plunger II vand below the curb I2 is provided a gutter I4 2| is placed on top of the layer of liquid bearing material, and a second plate 20 is placed on top of the plate 22. From this point on, further layers are set up, as described, up to the capacity of the curb. As pressure is exerted by the plunger, the layers 2| of liquid bearing material are squeezed together, and the oils and greases therein are expressed and passed through the perforations'in the plates 20 and over the plates 2| out between the slats of the curb and nally ar-e caught in the gutter I4.

In the construction of curb presses of this type it has been conventional to provide four columns to retain the press bed and press head in operative relationship, and such a construction is shown in the above noted patent.

According to our present invention, we place two presses side-by-side, as shown in Figures 1 to 4 inclusive, but instead of providing four' columns for each press, or the minimum of three columns for each press to insure stability, We provide only three columns for the two presses together. The columns and presses are so arranged that a line connecting two adjacent columns passes through the axis of a press, and the three columns are not in a single line. Thus, for example, in Figure 2 we have the press indicated generally atA and B and. we have the columns indicated at I'I, 23 and 24. Since the columns I'I, 23 and 24 are not in a line, but form a triangle, we achieve a high degree of stability, and yet each of the presses A and B considered alone is a two-column press, so that, instead of having a total of eight columns for two presses, or what would otherwise be considered a minimum of six columns for two presses, we have only three columns for two presses.

While it will be usual in practice to operate the presses alternately with one press being loaded while the other is pressing, it may be desirable to operate both presses concurrently.

If this is done, of course, the column I'I must bear twice the load borne by either of the columns 23 or 24, and therefore we prefer to make the column II of a cross-sectional area substantially double that of either of the columns 23 or 24.

In. the event that itl will never be desired to run the two presses concurrently, the column I1 could, of course, be of the same size as the columns 23 and 24, and in that event, a single platen I6 could be provided which could be swung alternately from press A- to press B. However, if it is likely that both presses may have to be used concurrently, not only will the column I1 have to be enlarged as described above, but a second platen 26 will have to be provided. The platen 26 may be pivoted on the column I'I by an extension 26a, and the platen I6 may be pivoted on the same column by means of a forked extension I6a. Preferably, of course, the battery will be provided with the enlarged column I1 and the two platens I6 and 26, so that both presses may be used toA press simultaneously because if it is desired to use the presses. alternately, one of the platens may simply be swung out of the way, and the other platen may be moved alternately from one to the other press.

The press head I9 may be a unitary casting and may be provided with strengthening ribs Illa or layers connecting the column I'I with each of the columns 23 and 24.

In Figures 3 to 5 inclusive we have shown a battery similar to that described above except having a platen which pivots on one of the columns, we provide a platen which is supported for rolling movement on angles 2'I in the press head I9. The platen 28 is provided with rollers 29 which support the platen on the rails 21 for rolling movement. Extensions 30 along the edges of theA platen 28 are arranged to bear against thickened portions of the head I9 when pressure is being exerted by the plunger. Thus the load carried by the head I9 is carried entirely at the thickened portions thereof adjacent `the columns, and the head itself may be considerably lighter than would otherwise be possible.

Here again a single platen could be provided which could be rolled back and forth from press A to press B, but again, if it is desired to use both presses simultaneously, two platens will have to be provided, and during such time as the presses are being operated alternately, one of the platens may be moved out of the way on extensions of the rails 21, as shown in Figures 3 and 4.

The arrangement of Figures l to 4 inclusive may, of course, be extended to more than two presses, and we have shown in Figure 6 diagrammatically an arrangement of an odd number of presses arranged in a straight line, and it will be noted that if N indicates the number of presses, N+1 will indicate the number of columns necessary. In such a construction the columns at either end of the battery, indicated at 3|, will be of smaller size because they are carrying only a half load, while the remaining columns 32 will be of larger size because each may have to carry a double load.

While Figure 6 is a diagram for an odd number of presses in a battery, there could just as well be an even number of presses, and there will be no difference except that the two end columns will both be on the same side of the line of presses.

For some installations it may be desirable to have a battery of presses not in line but in a more compact arrangement, and we have indicated diagrammatically the arrangement for a battery of five presses in Figure 7. In such a compact arrangement the presses will be disposed on the points of a regular polygon having a number of points equal to the number of presses to be used. The columns will then be disposed on the points of a similar regular polygon circumscribed about the first polygon and rotated axially with respect to the rst polygon by onehalf of the angle subtended by a side of said polygons. While we have shown an arrangement of ive presses, it will be clear that any number of presses from three on up could be arranged according to the principles set forth herein. With this arrangement, if N indicates the number of presses, N will also indicate the number of columns, and each column may bear a double load,

for the platen arrangement. Here, instead of number of hydraulic presses in line, said presses having a common press base and a common press head, each press having its own cylinder and plunger, and parallel supporting rods traversing aligned openings in said base and head, said rods being disposed alternately on either side of said line of presses in such manner that the axis of each press is on a line connecting two such rods, there being only one more such rod than there are presses in said battery.

2. An hydraulic press battery, comprising a number of hydraulic presses, said presses having a common press base and a common press head, and each pressk having its own cylinder and plunger, and parallel supporting rods traversing aligned openings in said base and head, said presses being disposed in plan with their axes on the vertices of a regular polygon inscribed in a circle, and said rods being disposed in plan on the vertices of a similar polygon circumscribed about the same circle, said polygons being axially rotated with respect to each other by one-half of the angle subtended by a side of said polygons.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the rods at either end of said line of presses have a certain cross-sectional area. and the other rods have a cross-sectional area which is substantially double the area of said end rods. l

4. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which there is a platen mounted for movement into operative relation with either of two adjacent presses, whereby when said platen is in operative relation with one of said presses, said other press may be loaded.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which there is a platen pivotally mounted on a supporting rod which is common to two adjacent presses, said platen being movable from a position in which it is in operative relation to one of said presses, to a position in which it is in operative relation to the other of said presses.

6. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which there is a platen pivotally mounted on a supporting rod which is common to two adjacent presses, said platen being movable from a position in which it is in operative relation to one of said presses, to a position in which it is in operative relation to the other of said presses, and an additional platen pivotally mounted on said rod, so that when said first platen is in operative relation to one of said presses, said additional platen may be brought into operative relation to the other of said presses for concurrent use of the same.

7. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which there is a pair of rails mounted on said press head and extending at least between two adjacent presses, and a platen mounted for movement along said rails from a position in which it is in operative relation with one of said presses to a position in which it is in operative relation with the other of said presses.

8. Apparatus according to claim 2, in which each of said supporting rods is of va cross-sectional area to support at least the entire load on a single press.

9. In an hydraulic press having a plunger, a press head and press base, with parallel supporting columns extending therebetween, and a platen mounted for movement into and out of pressing position on rails aiiixed to said head, said head being relatively thin throughout most of its extent, and being thickened adjacent said supporting columns, and said platen having lateral extensions underlying the thickened portions of said head, and said lateral extensions arranged to bear against the thickened portions of said head when pressure is applied by said plunger, whereby the load is borne by said press head only adjacent said supportingcolumns.

10. An hydraulic press battery, comprising a number of hydraulic presses, said presses having a common press base and a common press head, each press having its own cylinder and plunger, and parallel supporting rods traversing aligned openings in said base and head, said rods being disposed so that any two adjacent rods are on the diameter of a press cylinder, and so that a plane connecting the diameters of adjacent press cylinders is free of supporting rods.

WILLIAM C. SCHMIDT. `FREDERICK A. ZAENKERT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 366,398 Jourdan July 12, 1887 420,128 Tubbs Jan. 28, 1890 710,632 Torricellas Oct. 7, 1902 795,121 Heiderich July 18, 1905 818,265 Koeber Apr. 17, 1906 1,293,833 McGary Feb. 11, 1919 1,736,262 Hanel Nov. 19, 1929 1,898,116 Allbright Feb. 21, 1933 2,083,032 MacMillin June 8, 1937 2,417,697 Loomis Mar. 18, 1947 

